Shock absorber



C. J. FORD.

SHOCK ABSORBER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23, 1921.

1&85958. I Patented No'v. 7,1922.

Qlaud c1 Ferd.

INVENTOR VJiTNESSES ATTORNEY Y a" a erg; w b ,i. Patented Nov. If, l92r3. l tw hdo an in e "a e Application filed 23,

921. Serial No. 471,605.

To allwhom it may concern: which pass through. perforations in the mem- Be it known that I, CLAUD J. FORD, a oer 3 and the spr 2, and likewi e through citizen of the United States, residing at perforations in the oodymemberlof the ve Portland, in the county of Multnomah and mole. The a le is connected to the spring 5 State of Ore on have invented a new and 2 by means or mv improwd shock absorber b a 1 J: 5/ 1 useful iehock Absorber of which cue iolwhich broadly compri parallel arms or 11w) lowing is a specification. levers 6 and T, flexibly connected to each This invention relates to shock absorbers other, as shown at The flexible connecand is more particularly directed to a new tion is in the form of an integral loop which andimproved means for diminishing strains provides a spring means for maintaining 65 that occur as the vehicle body of an autothe arms 6 and 7 in spaced relation. The mobile moves in opposition to the movement outer end of the arm or lever G is rigidly of the running gear. connected to the free end of the spring 2 by The invention contemplates the use of a bolts 9, while the outer end or the arm 7 is 15 resilient means adapted to be located berigidly connected. transversely oi? the axle 5 tween the end of a cantilever vehicle spring by bolts 10. I Y and the vehicle axle and comprises two arms, The arms or levers 6 and 7 may be made of elements or levers flexibly connected. one either resilient or non-resilient material de of the arms being rigidly connected to the pending on which form is to employed.

axle and the other arm rigidly connected to In the form shown in 2, a modificathe end of the vehicle spring. tion is disclosed in which the outer end of The invention will be best understood the arm 6 has a. perforated straight portion from a consideration of the following dell extended beyond. the end oi? the spring 2, tailed description taken in connection with while the arm 7 is extended downwardly at the accompanying drawing forming part of 12 and outwardly to provide an offset porthis specification, with the understanding, tionl; forseating a spring 14 which engages however, that the invention is not confined the extension 11. A perforation is formed to any strict conformity with the showing in in the offset portion 13 and in alinement the drawing, but may be changed and modiwith the perforation in the extension 11.

30 fied so long as such changes and modifica- The arms 6 and 7 are secured in spaced relations mark no material departure from the ion by means of the spring 14- and a bolt salient features of the invention as expressed 1 inserted fi the filmed perforations in the appended claims. in the portion 13 and extension 11. The

i th drawin spring 1d and bolt 15 provide a cushion for 35 Fig. l is a side elevation of the shock ab- Spacing the ends of the levers 6 and'7, while sorber and shows the simplest form of my the bolt 15 provides an adjustment for the invention. levers and likewise a means for limiting the Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a modified outward. movement of the lever G with i'ela- :torin oi? the shock absorber. tion to the lever 'Z.

40 The device consists generally of a. pair of In operation, the device disclosed in Fig. substantially parallel flexibly connected, 1 llEl-S greater flexibility than the SllOCi Z allmembers, one arranged abov the othe th sorber shown in Fig. 2, since the outer ends upper member being rigidly connected to a, are free, permitting a greater variation in hi l Spring a d th lower ne ri idly conthe expansion of the flexible connection 8.

45 nected to the axle of an automobile. A Both forms in cooperation with the main spring may be, and preferably is employed springs will absorb shocks equally as well in one form of the device, between the two when properly applied, since the greater parallel members to assist in maintaining freedom of movement of the shock absorber these members substantially, parallel and Of F 1 is properly compensated for in the 5 further assist in absorbing shocks due to use of the coil spring 1aof 2.

sudden changes in speed of the automobile. The action of the device disclosed in Fig.

In the drawings, a fragmentary portion 9 is obvious, since the spring 14 will absorb of the automobile body is shown at l, to the shock which results when the automobile which is secured a vehicle spring 2, by means wheel encounters an obstruction, and to- 55 of a U-shaped member 3, and the bolts d gether with the spring arms 6 and 7 absorb 2 certain shocks before themore rigid main springs are brought into play.

It will also be observed that the end of the spring 2 will have considerably more play and therefore is adapted to distribute the strains by reason of the improved connection between the end of the spring and the axle.

in both forms, the two arms, members or levers are rigidly connected respectively to one end of the vehicle spring and to the front axle, the arms, members or levers extending inwardly toward. the center of the vehicle and immediately beneath the main 'vehicle spring thereof.

l i l'iat is claimed lrln a shock absorber for vehicles for use with a. vehicle spring, a pair of arms integrally and flexibly connected at their inner ends and arranged one above the other and transversely of avehicle axle, one of said arms being rigidly connected at its outer end to the end 0i a vehicle spring, and the other arm being rigidly connected to the vehicle axle, the flexible connection be tween the arms being free and unsupported.

2. In a. shock absorber for vehicles for use with. a vehicle spring, a pair of arms arranged one above the other and integrally and flexibly connected at their inner ends, one of said arms being rigidly connected. to the end of the vehicle spring, the other arm being rigidly connected to the vehicle axle, an oli'set portion formed on the end of the second-mentioned arm remote from said flexible connection, and a coil spring located Within the ofl'set portion and engaging the first-mentioned arm.

3. In a shock absorber for vehicles for use with a vehicle spring, a pair of arms arranged one above the other, means integrally and flexibly connecting said arms together, one of the arms being rigidly connected to the end of a vehicle spring, the other arm being rigidly connected to the rear axle, and means located at one side or the flexible connection of the arms for resiliently holding the saidarms in normal position.

4. In a shock absorber for vehicles for use with a vehicle spring, a repair of arms arranged one above the other, means integrally and flexibly connecting said arms together, the end of one; of the arms being ri idly connected. to the end of a vehicle spring, the end oi the other aim being rigidly connected to the rear axle, and means located at the end of the arms remote from said flexible connection of said arms and outside the axle for resiliently holding the said arms in a normal position.

5. In a shock absorber, the combination with a vehicle axle and a vehicle spring, of a pair o'l arms arranged one above the other. means for flexibly and integrally connecting said arms, means for rigidly connecting the lower arm to the axle transversely thereof, means for rigidly connecting the upper arm to the end of the vehicle spring, said arms extending from said axle inwardly toward the center of the vehicle and in vertical aiiuement with said vehicle spring, and a. coil spring acting upon the upper arm to absorb shocks. V y 7 in testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto atlixed my signature.

GLAUD J. FOR-D. 

